LaDS sideblog

You return to your screen, suppressing a laugh. His stare doesn’t waver. He shifts his body so he can see your face better.

“I love you,” he repeats.

When you still don’t respond, he gently takes your phone and tosses it aside.

“Hey—”

“I will return your phone after you say it back,” he cuts you off, his eyes holding yours captive.

“Fine,” you sigh, a smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. “I love you, too.”

The moment you say those words back, his shoulders relax slightly, and he returns to rest his head on your shoulder—but not before leaning down to place a soft kiss on your forehead.

𝐙𝐀𝐘𝐍𝐄

“I love you,” Zayne says as he adjusts his tie, ready to head to the hospital.

You smile but continue packing his lunch without responding. His eyes narrow slightly as he studies your face, searching for clues.

“Is everything alright?” he asks.

“No, everything’s fine,” you nod casually, handing him his coffee. He doesn’t take it. Instead, he places both hands on your shoulders, looking directly into your eyes.

“Something’s wrong,” he states. “Did I miss something? Was it the late shift four days ago? Or the call during dinner last night?”

His brow furrows deeper with each possibility. He checks his watch—he should be leaving, but you can see him mentally rescheduling his morning.

“If there’s something bothering you, I’d rather know now before I head to the hospital. I can’t focus at work if I’m thinking about this all day,” he admits. “Please, just tell me what’s wrong.”

“I love you, too, Doctor Zayne. I was just teasing,” you chuckle at his troubled face.

Relief washes over his face as he pulls you into a tight embrace. “Don’t scare me like that,” he murmurs against your hair, then kisses you firmly before finally heading to work.

𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐋

“I love you,” Rafayel says as he drapes himself across your lap while you read. You pat his head absently, not looking up from your book.

“Excuse me?” He sits up abruptly. “I said I love you.”

When you still don’t respond, he slides closer, his nose practically touching yours.

“Hello? Is anyone home?” He waves his hand in front of your face. “I just declared my undying affection, and you’re... ignoring me?”

“I heard you,” you reply, fighting a smile.

“And?” he persists, inching closer until his face is directly in your line of sight. “You don’t love me anymore? Or you don’t love me back? Is that it?”

He wraps his arms around you, effectively trapping your book between you. His chin rests on your shoulder, his breath tickling your ear.

“I love you,” he whispers again, more insistently. “I looooove you. I. Love. You.”

Each attempt grows more dramatic than the last. He starts peppering your face with kisses, making it impossible to ignore him.

“Say it back or I’ll never say it again,” he threatens, though it’s all just a bluff. He could never not express his feelings to you, ever. “Fine, I’m holding you hostage until you do.”

You finally laugh, “Okay! I love you, too,” and his triumphant smile lights up the room.

𝐒𝐘𝐋𝐔𝐒

The morning light filters through the window as Sylus adjusts his cufflinks, preparing for another day of ruthless negotiations and power plays.

“I love you,” he says, glancing at you from the corner of his eye as you lounge on the bed, scrolling through your phone.

“Mmm, have a good day at work,” you make a noncommittal sound, deliberately focusing on your screen.

A beat of silence follows before he smoothly returns to his preparations. “Very well. I’ll see you later.”

You watch him leave, huffing in annoyance at his composed reaction.

Hours later, when you hear the door open, you’re surprised to find him returning much earlier than usual. He enters the bedroom carrying several packages and a bag of food that fills the air with tantalizing aromas.

“What’s all this?” you ask, genuinely confused.

“Just some stuff I bid at auction, and your favorite meal,” he replies casually, setting everything down.

When you stare at him in disbelief, the corner of his mouth curves up slightly. “Whatever I did to displease you this morning,” he says, “consider it rectified.”

“I was just messing around…”

“I know.” He approaches, tilting your chin up. “Now, tell me, aren’t you forgetting something?”

You finally confessed, he deserves to hear it anyway. “I love you, too.”

He smiles, satisfied. He won’t admit that he’d been thinking about it the whole day, though.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁

Rain patters against the windows as you and Caleb relax in the living room, the comfortable silence broken only by the occasional rumble of thunder.

“I love you,” he says, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on your arm as you lean against his chest.

You pretend not to hear, focusing instead on the TV. He shifts, angling his head to look at your face. “Hey, did you hear me? I said I love you.”

“Yeah, I heard you,” you reply, fighting to keep your expression neutral.

He straightens up, forcing you to sit upright as he moves to face you directly. “Seriously?”

Before you can respond, his hands are on your cheeks, gently squishing them together as he leans in close.

“I don’t think I heard your response properly,” he says, his face inches from yours now. “Let’s try again.”

When you press your lips together stubbornly, he shakes his head. “Say it back,” he insists, fighting a grin. “Come on, three little words. Not that hard.”

“I luff oo,” you manage through squished cheeks.

“No, no,” he chuckles, easing his grip slightly. “Again, with feeling this time.”

"I love you, too, Caleb,” you manage to say it again despite your still squished cheeks.

His grip softens when you finally say it clearly, but he doesn’t release you until you’ve repeated it once more.